Wire-fencing fastener for concrete posts.



No. 869,137. PATENTED 001". 22. 1907,

an, DOWN.

WIRE FENCING FASTENER FOR CONCRETE POSTS. APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 2, 1907.

f/VV/iNTOA UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WIRE-FENCING FASTENER FOR CONCRETE POSTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907 Application filed February 2, 1907- Serial No. 355,467.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST U. DOWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterville, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Wire-Fencing Fastener for Concrete Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire fasteners for concrete fence posts and has for its object the provision of a simple and inexpensive device of this character capable of being quickly attached to or removed from the post and which forms an effective means for locking wire fencing in position on the post and at the same time prevents injury to the latter by reason of contact with the fence wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire fastener having oppositely disposed attaching ears or lugs adapted to be bent laterally into engagement with the opposite sides of the fence post thereby to prevent accidental displacement of said fastener.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the fastener is formed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the blank folded and ready to be inserted in the fence post. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the fastener in position on the fence post. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved fastener is principally designed for securing wire fasteners in position on artificial stone fence posts and by way of illustration is shown in connection with a cement fence post in which 5 designates the post and 6 one of the longitudinal wires of the fence. I

The fence post is molded or otherwise formed with a transverse angularly disposed recess 7 having a contracted throat 8 communicating therewith and opening through one longitudinal edge of the post thereby to permit the wire 6 to be conveniently inserted in or removed from the recess 7. The fastener proper is constructed from a blank 9 preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal substantially rectangular in shape, as shown and provided with transverse fold lines 10 and 11, there being slits or cuts 12 extending inwardly from the opposite longitudinal edges of the blank at the fold line 11 and defining attaching ears 13. The

blank is folded on the lines 10 and 11 to form a tubular body portion 14 of the same general shape as the recess 7 and adapted to engage the interior walls of said recess to form a housing or casing for the wire 6.

In using the fastener the wire 6 is first introduced into the recess 7 through the contracted throat 8 after which the tubular member 14 .is placed in position on the wire 6 with one of the cars 13 bent at right angles to the tubular member, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The adjacent ends of the tubular member are then pressed together and said tubular member adjusted longitudinally of the wire 6 and forced within the recess 7 until the ear or lug 13 engages the adjacent face of the post 5 after which the opposite ear or lug is bent laterally into engagement with the opposite face of the post, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, thus securely clamping the tubular member within the recess 7 and effectually preventing accidental displacement of the same.

Attention is called to the fact that the opposite ends of the tubular member 14 are extended laterally beyond the adjacent side walls of the fence post to form bearing surfaces for engagement with the wire 6.

It will also be observed that when the wire is pressed laterally against the interior angular walls or shoulders 15 of the tubular member the strain will be received by said walls and thus be distributed vertically of the post so as to prevent cracking or otherwise injuring the post at the contracted threat 8.

Attention is also called to the fact that one l0ngitu dinal edge of the tubular member over-laps the adjacent edge thereof at the ears 13 so that when the tubular member is introduced in the recess 7 one longitudinal edge thereof will bear against the adjacent edge and assist in holding the tubular member in position.

The fasteners may be made in different sizes and shapes and maybe used in connection with wood, cement metal or. other styles or forms of posts or wherever a device of this character is found desirable.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. The combination with a fence-post having a transverse recess formed therein and opening through one edge of the post, of a split tubular wire receiving member seated in said recess and provided at its opposite ends with means for engagement with the adjacent sides of the post the adjacent longitudinal edges of the tubular member being forced in contact with each other by engagement with the Walls of the recess.

2. The combination with a fence post having a trans verse recess formed therein and opening through one edge of the post, of a longitudinally split tubular wire-receiving member seated in said recess and forming a closure for the opening in the edge of the post, said tubular member being provided with oppositely disposed lugs engaging the adja cent side walls of the post.

3. The combination with a fence post having a transverse recess formed therein, of a tubular wirereceiving member seated in said recess and having its opposite ends extended laterally beyond the adjacent walls of the post and slit longitudinally to form attaching lugs for engagement with the adjacent Walls of the post.

4. The combination with a fence post having a trans verse recess formed therein, of a tubular wire-receiving member of the same shape as the recess and engaging the interior walls thereof, said tubular member being extended beyond the opposite side walls of the post and slit longitu dinally to form attaching lugs for engagement with said post.

5. The combination with a fence post having a transverse recess formed therein and opening through one edge of the post, of an angularly disposed tubular wire-receiving member seated within the recess and having the mating faces of two of its walls disposed at the opening in the edge of the post, and attaching lugs formed integral with the tubular member and bearing against the adjacent side walls of the post.

6. The combination with a fence post having a transverse rectangular recess formed therein and provided with a lateral opening communicating with said recess, of a tubular angularly disposed wire-receiving member seated in said recess, the juncture of two of the walls of the tubular member being disposed at the lateral opening in the post, and lugs extending laterally from the opposite ends of an adjacent wall of a member and engaging the adjacent side walls of the post.

7. A wire fastener comprising a tubular body portion having its opposite ends slit longitudinally, the metal at said slits being adapted to be bent laterally to form oppositely disposed attaching lugs.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST U. DOWN.

-Witnesses \VILLIAM H. Os'rnaxnnrt, JOHN M. BENNETT. 

